13 weeks pg and have just been made rendundant from job of 8 years.

[hoolabombshell]

Hi everyone

I've just been told that the company I work for is closing in 6 weeks time and I am being made redundant. I am 13 weeks pregnant and was going to work up until end of Jan then go on Mat Leave.

So apart from having to find another job stat, I now won't qualify for SMP when I go off to have baby (even with a new employer). I believe Mat Allowance is an option, so I am looking into this but don't know what the main differences are.

My question I guess is - should I tell any prospective employers that I am pregnant (given I will starting to show in the next few weeks) and am only looking for 5 months work, or should I not say anything and then potentially leave them in the lurch by saying "I've been pregnant all along, see ya!" after Christmas, and handing in my notice. I would prefer no to do this if I can help it, but I don't think 5 month contracts are very common?

I haven't considered temporary work as I would need something consistent and (if possible) in line with my current salary (those bills will still need to get paid!). Of course I would take temp work if I had to, but as a last resort.

Any advice is appreciated :) and thanks in advance.

Really it would be up to you whether you tell them or not that you are pregnant. At only eight weeks I personally wouldn't but at 16 weeks I probably would.

Thanks, yeah I think I'd rather be up front (excuse the pun) about it - it will no doubt make it harder to find a job but I'll just have to deal with it.

No I wouldnt tell them. The job market is hard enough without putting barriers in your place,

Are you planning not to return after maternity leave?

Good question tribpot, I think I would want to take about a year after the baby is born, although I am still not sure yet.

I feel I might be burning bridges in not telling an employer up front and then leaving after 5 months. Then again I am legally not obliged to tell an employer I am pregnant and going on mat leave until 15 weeks before my due date, so maybe I'm just being a wuss

In any case I would like to leave on good terms so that they might have me back after mat leave.

I'd be honest, it just creates bad feeling between colleagues not to mention a trust issue for the employer.

You could temp for the few months and then look for something permanent near to the end of your maternity.

You coudl tell them, but they are not allowed to use this as a reason not to give you a job. (Of course, they may then try to find other reasons). An employer is not actaully allowed to ask about curtrent or planned families until after a job offer has been made.

The question is: why do you feel they need to know when considering you for employment. It should not be a relevant factor in offering you a job, therefore you should not feel obliged in any way to mention it.

HappyMummy, if the employer experiences 'bad feelings' in relation to this, then they are breaking the law!

OnaDietCoke is absolutely right.

"You could tell them, but they are not allowed to use this as a reason not to give you a job. (Of course, they may then try to find other reasons)."

The truth is if they know you are pregnant and don't want to employ you because of that, then they won't turn you down on that basis, they will not only try, but will find some other reason.

"why do you feel they need to know when considering you for employment. It should not be a relevant factor in offering you a job, therefore you should not feel obliged in any way to mention it."

Absolutely - this is why I wouldn't tell them, there's no obligation on your part to tell them.